Fence-post.



W. B. & L. A. HENNING.

FENCE POST. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15, 1909.

Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

x 6. WM;

UNITED strarrnsrnrnnr OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. H ENNING AND LOUIS A. HENNING, OF NORTH BALTIMORE, OH II O.

FENCE-POST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

' Application filed January 15, 1909. Serial No. 472,448.

.of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Fence-Post; and we dohereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to metallic fence posts and particularly to postsof the channel type which are especially adapted for the fastening ofline wires or woven wire fences thereto,'but is not restricted for usein such connection.

The object 'of the invention is the provision of a post of this nature,which is light, strong and durable in its construction, economical ofmanufacture, and provided with simple and efiicient means for relativelybracing the legs or flanges from the-sides of the post, which means mayalso serve as an anchor and centering means for the post.

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel and improvedmeans for attaching the line wires to the post whereby such wires aresecurely held thereto and are at the same time permitted to have free1ongitudinal contracting and expanding movements relative to the 0stunder changing weather conditions, wifliout loosening orin any wayinjuring such securing means.

The construction and arrangement of the parts of this invention arefully described in the following specification, and a preferredembodiment thereof illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which--Figure l is a perspective View of our 30st. Fig. 2 is a side elevationthereof wit its lower end embedded in the ground, and Figs. 3 and 4 arecross-sections on the line a; w and 3 g, respectively, in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the body of our improved post,which, in cross-section, is of channel sha e and comprises thecentralportion 2 imthe diverging webs or extensions 3 3, which projectfrom the opposite edges 0 such central poi tion and have their outeredges bent lat- I erally or fashioned to-form terminal flanges 4, 4.These flanges are so disposed relative to their respective extensions asto present flat faces to-the line wires 5 of a fence attached theretoand also to give the post greater strength and rigidity, as will beapparent.

The central portion 2 of the post is preferably made concavo-convex incross-section with its concaved side disposed outwardly relative to thewebs 3, 3, and is centrally formed longitudinally thereof with anoutwardly disposed trans Jersely rounded ridge 6, which is preferably ofless depth than the concavity of the portion 2 for the purposehereinafter described. The ridge 6 is perforated at suitable distancesapart for the rece )tion of wire-fastening members 7, which are eaded atone end, as at 8, and are intendedto have such heads bear against theridge 6 and to have their opposite ends bent around the wires 5, as at9, to hold them securely to the post. In. order to securely hold theline wires to a post and at the same time to permit them to freelycontract or expand without liability of bending, Weakenmg or breakingthe securing members 7 owing to the lateral stresses to which they aresubjected by such action of the wires, we form the inner faces of theheads 8 of the securin members in the arcs of circles correspon ing tothe rounded surface of the ridge 6, thus providing pivotal jointsbetween the post and securing members to permit the said members to havetransverse oscillatory movements between the Webs 3,3

when the wires have lon itudinal movement, it of course being an erstoodthat the perforations in the ridges are sufiiciently large to permitsuch pivotal movement of the members. This permissible pivotal-action ofthe securing members is a very important feature, as.one of the maindifficulties in wire fence construction has been the pulling out of thesecuring staples, or the loosening or breaking of other wire securingmeans due to a contraction or expansion of the line wires. Theshallowness of the ridge 6 relative to the concavity of the centralportion 2 enables the heads 8 of the sccuring members 7 to be protectedby the extended side edges of such central portion from injury due toanimals rubbing against the post or other objects striking the same.

pg seam? The Webs or extensions 3, 3 are rigidly braced against relativemovements by one or more truss-platcs 10, Which have cotiperatin sets oflugs 11 stamped therefrom, or OtlQIWlSO suitably provided thereon, toembrace the inner and outer edges of eachterminal flange 4:, as shown,thus adapting thmn to brace the Webs 8, 3 againstboth contracting orretracting movements. These plates may also serve as means to which gatehinges may be secured, or for any other purpose.

The lower truss-plate 10 may, if desired, be used as an alining, ingmeans by disposing itbelow the surface line, as shown in Fig. 2. ,Whenused in this connection the plate preferably has its ends cut on anincline relative to a vertical plane with its broad edge disposedupwardly to facilitate the forcing of the plate ends into the firm earthat the sides of a post hole, thus enabling the post to be accuratelylined up and firmly held in such position during the filling ot' thehole, or to support the post at a proper depth in a hole. The plate alsoserves as a thrust plateto oppose lateral movements of the post in theground. The flanges at may or may not be extended to the bottom of thepost as desired, but preferably have their lower end portions continuedstraight relative to the extensions 3, as shown at at, to provide stopsfor limiting the lowering movements oi the plate 10 on the post.

We Wish it understood that our invention is not limited to the specificform and arrangement of parts shown and described except in so far assuch limitations are specifled in the claims. Having thus described ourinvention What centering or anchor j. l l l "Webs ineither direc Weclaim as new and desire to secure by Let-- ters Patent is,- v

l. A channel cost having its side .Web terminals flanged in a commonplane, and a truss-plate havii sets of tongues provided thereon which onace each side edge of a flange and coopera to prevent relativecontracting or retracting movements of the Webs. v

2. A channel-post having a central corrugated portion forminglongitudinal center and side protuhe t ribs and Webs projecting from theside of such portion and relatively diver ng outwardly therefrom, theterminal e V of such Webs being angled to form a broadened wire bearingsurface for each We), and a plate secured to such hearing v aces in amanner to prevent relative contracting or retracting movements of theWeiss 3. A channetpost having its side -Web terminals flanged in commonplane for portion of their len ths and continuing straight relative toWebs for the r mainder or" their 1e11, is, and a truss-plate havingcooperating s curing means for slidingly'attaching the to said flangesand preventing relative i *al movements of the i said straighttcrininaledges of the W i serving as stops for limiting he sliding movements ofthe plate on the Webs.

in testimony Whei We have hereunto signed our names to t specificationin the presence of two s: 1g Witnesses.

Wl' HENNING. LGU

HENNING; lVitnesses: I

C. wi l Owen, HAZEL l

